Printer selection depends on feature size, mechanical demands, surface finish, quantity, regulatory needs and repeatability—not just advertised speed.
Why this matters
Printer selection depends on feature size, mechanical demands, surface finish, quantity, regulatory needs and repeatability—not just advertised speed. The business case must rest on customer requirements, documented assumptions, feasible manufacturing processes and repeatable economics.
How to put it into practice
Map requirements first. For each job, list dimensions, tolerance, loading, heat exposure, material compatibility, finishing, volume and the cost of failure. Outsource specialized industrial work until demand supports equipment ownership.
A practical five-step exercise
- Write the customer problem in one sentence.
- List three constraints that must be satisfied before production.
- Collect one real price, time or demand measurement.
- Choose a low-risk test and define what success would look like.
- Document the result and update your business plan.
The next decision
Reliability, service support, quality documentation and safe operation often matter more than a feature comparison chart.
Build from evidence: interview customers, document workflow, verify critical claims, and measure the outcome before adding complexity.
Explore the related MBA module or review the full PDF course.